Trench excavator



June l0, 1952 D. F. PRzYBYLsKl 2,599,778

:FRENCH ExcAvAToR Filed Nov. 25, 1945 5 sheets-sheet 1 wniuwlli My i `une 10, 1952 Filed Nov. 23, 1945 D. F. PRzYBYLsKl 2,599,778

TRENCH EXCAVATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y ATTORNEY June 10, 1952 D. F. PRzYBYLsKl l 2,599,778

' TRENCH EXCAVATOR Filed Nov'. 23, 1945 5 SheGS-Shee'rl 5.

INVENTOR 12. zygy/M/ ATTORNEY June 10, 1952 D. F. PRzYBYLsKl 2,599,778

TRENCH EXCAVATOR Filed NOV. 23, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Patented June 10, 1952 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFIcE TRENCH EXCAVATOR Daniel F. Przybylski, Winona, Minn.

Application November 23, 1945, Serial No. 630,310

My invention relates to improvements in trench excavators, and more particularly, to an excavator suitable for digging a trench of the desired depth and width for laying tile.

It is well known that tile is extensively laid on farms on level lands for drainage to improve the soil and therefore produce better crops in either wet or dry seasons. To date, this type of trench excavating has proved to be costly to the farmer, however, the improvement due to tiling the land is generally known to have paid for itself within a few years. At the present time, the majority of tiling of lands is done by hand with spades and shovels. This procedure is slow and costly.

There are machines manufactured which are capable of doing this work, but the number of these machines operating today are few. These machines are heavy, expensive and most of the digging is done by contractors. The majority of the farmers or groups of farmers are unable to pay the price of this type of machine and due to the limited number of such machines and contractors, they are inadequate to do the job.

The principal purpose of my invention is to provide a trench excavator which will save time and cost to the farmer in digging trenches suitable for laying tile, and which is compact, light and durable and can be manufactured at a price most farmers or groups of farmers can afford.

This trench excavator is a two-wheeled trailer that is drawn by a tractor of any type or make.

An object of this invention is to provide a trench excavator which is towed by a tractor, when moving on the road or to its destination of digging, and when in digging operation, is powered solely from the tractor by means of a power take-off and pushes the tractor.

Another object of this invention is to provide a trench excavator in which variations of speeds are flexible and regulated to synchronize the digging with the advancing of the machine, enabling the use of any type or make of tractor with a power take-off attachment, and enabling the power of the tractor to be fully utilized at all times when operating regardless of the size of the tractor, thus eliminating loss of surplus power when powered by a large tractor and accomplishing more and faster digging.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the drawings.

To the above end, generally stated, the invention consists of the novel devices and combination of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claim. l

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Figs. 1 and 1a are elevational views of the entire trench excavator separated on the line :v -a: and showin-g, respectvely, the front and rear portion thereof;

1 Claim. (Cl. 37-90) Figs. 2 and 2a are plan views of the trench excavator as shown in Figs. 1 and la, respectively;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail View in plan of the countershaft and associated parts; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view principally in section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. l.

The numeral 5 indicates a fragment of a tractor having a rear platform 6 and a power take-off shaft l.

As heretofore stated, the trench excavator is a two-wheeled trailer drawn by the tractor 5. The wheels of the trench excavator are indicated by 'the numeral 8 and equipped with dual tires 9. These wheels 8 are journaled on an axle I0. Mounted on the axle I0 and extending forwardly thereof is a skeleton bed II comprising a pair of longitudinal H side bars I2 and front and rear cross-tie bars I3 and I4, respectively. This bed II further includes a pair of intermediate longitudinal angle bars I5 on the cross-tie bars I3 and I4. The side bars I2, forwardly of the cross-tie bar I3, are in forwardly converging relation and downwardly inclined. Said side bars I2, at their extreme outer end portions, are parallel, rigidly connected and have therebetween a clevis I6 connected to the tractor platform 6 by a pivot pin I'I.

Main side frames I8, made up of angle bars, are mounted on the bed II and each thereof includes an upright bar I9 directly over the axle I0, an oblique bar 20 forwardly of the bar I9 that extends from said bed to the top of the bar I9, a rear bar 2l that extends obliquely from the lower end of the bar I9, and a top horizontal bar 22 that connects the two bars I9 and 2U at their upper ends.

Secondary side frames 23 are mounted in part on the bed I l and in part on the main side frames I8. These secondary side frames 23 are made up of relatively light angle bars and extend both forwardly and rearwardly of the axle I0. Sheet metal side plates 24 are secured to the two side frames I8 and 23. A front end plate 25 of sheet metal is secured to the secondary side frames 23.

The wheels 8 are independently driven from the power take-olf shaft 1 by the following connections, to wit: a sectional drive shaft 26, a slip clutch 21, universal joints 28, three four-speed transmissions 29, a differential 30 having on each side thereof a small sprocket wheel 3 I and sprocket chains 32 that run over the sprocket wheels 3 I and large sprocket wheels 33 on the wheels 8.

The slip clutch 21 connects the two shafts I and 26, one of the universal joints 28 is forward of the slip clutch 21 and the other is between said slip clutch and the first speed transmission 29 and the speed transmissions 29 and the diffbeinltial 30 are mounted on the bars I5 of the A countershaft 34 is journaled in babbitted bearings 35 that are within and spaced from concentric sleeve bearings 36. These sleeve bear'- ings 36 extend transversely over and rest on the oblique frame bars 20 and are welded thereto.

Said sleeve bearings 36 are further secured to the frame bars 20 by wide metal straps 31 that are folded thereover with their ends resting on said bars and welded thereto. These straps 31 are also welded to the sleeve bearings 36.

The bearings 35 are secured to the sleeve bearing 36, at their outer ends, by overlapping flanges 38 on the respective ends of said bearings and said flanges are connected by nut-equipped bolts 39. On the inner ends of the bearings $6V are collars 40 through which the bearings 35 at their inner end portions extend and are supported thereby.

The countershaft 34 is driven from the drive shaft 26 by the following connections, to wit: a sprocket chain 4| runs overa small sprocket Wheel 42 on the drive shaft 26 and a large sprocket wheel 43 on the shaft '44 having a bevel pinion 45 that meshes with a bevel gear 46 on a shaft 41 and a sprocket chain 48 runs over a small sprocket wheel 49 on the shaft 4 1 and a large sprocket wheel 59 on the countershaft 34. The shaft 44 is journaled in bearings 5| on short transverse angle bars 52 on the left-hand sigle bar I2 and adjacent bar I5. The shaft 41 is journaled in bearings 53 on the oblique frame bar 20.

A rearwardly projecting boom 54 is attached .to the countershaft 34 for swinging movement in a verticaln plane. This boom 54 is, as shown, a long H-balr having on its inner end an adjustable head 55. This head 55 includes a long sleeve 56 that is square in cross-section and mounted on the respective end of the boom 54 for endwise sliding movement. A pair of diverging arms 51 are rigidly secured tothe sides of the sleeve 56 slightly forwardly of the longitudinal centers of said sides. A cross-tie H-bar 58 connects the sleeve 56 and the two arms 51. The outer end portions ofthe arms 51 are parallel and one of the members of a pair of two-part bearings 59 are rigidly secured to the ends'of Said arms. The members of the bearings 59 have outturned lugs 60 connected by nut-equipped bolts 6|. These bearings 59 are journaled on the sleeve vbearings 36 and support the boom 54 for swingingr movement in a yvertical plane about the axis of the countershaft 34.

The boom head 55 is adjusted relative tothe boom `54 by a long screw bolt 62 having threaded engagement with the closed inner end of the sleeve 56 and irnpinges the closed inner end of Y the boom 54. A lock nut 63 on the bolt 62 impinges the closed end of the sleeve 56. The purpose of adjusting the head on the Vboom 54 is to vary the operative length of said head and boom to act as a chain tightener, as will hereinafter appear.

A heavyV endless conveyor sprocket chain '64 runs over a large sprocket wheel 65 on the countershaft 34 ,midway between the arms 51 and a like idle sprocket wheel 66 journaled on a short shaft V61 on a pair of parallel bars 68 on the outer end of theboom 54 and from an extension thereof. This sprocket chain64 also runs over upper and lower guide sprocket wheels 69 journaled in a short shaft 10 on a pair of upright bars 1| secured to the boom 54 on the sides thereof.

By manipulating the screw bolt 62, the boom 54 may be endwise adjusted relative to its head 55 and thereby vary the distance between the sprocket wheels 65 and 66 to suit the conveyor chain 64.

A plurality of shovels 12 are secured to the conveyor chain 64 atV longitudinally spaced points. Each shovel 12 has an upstanding post 13 provided at its upper end with a pair of diverging arms 13J on the outer ends of which are plates v14 that form one of the links of the conveyor chain 64 and attach the shovel 12 thereto.

The boom 54 is raised and lowered by a cable Y15 and a windlass drum 16. One end of the cable 15 is attached at 11 to a cross-tie angle bar 18 on the main frame bars 22 and its other end portion is wound on the windlass drum 16. The windlass drum 16 is journaled in bearings 19 on the left-hand bar I2 of the bed II and the adjacent bar I5 and operated by a hand crank 80 on a shaft 8| journaled in said bearings and having a spur pinion 82 that meshes with a `spur gear 83 on the windlass drum 16. The cable 1.5 from its attachment at 11 to the angle bar 'I8 runs over a sheave 84 on a, transverse angle bar 35 on the boom 54, Aover a pair of directional sheaves 86 on the cross-tie bar 18, over avsheave 81 on the angle bar 85 at the opposite side of the boom 54 from the sheave 84l andover a guide sheave 88 on a post 89 on the angle bar 18 to the windlass drum 16.

After digging a load of soil, the shovels 12 are moved by the conveyor chain 64 upwardly under the boom 54 and as they pass around the sprocket wheel 65, the loads therein are dumped therefrom and precipitated onto a cross conveyor belt 90. The cross conveyor belt 96 runs over outer and inner rolls 9| and 92, respectively. These rolls 9| and 92 are journaled inbearings 93 on a pair of angle bars 94 secured to the bed side bars I2. The outer roll 9| is driven from the shaft 44 by a sprocket chain 95 that runs over a sprocket wheel 96 on said shaft and a sprocket wheel 91 on the shaft 98 of said outer roll. The end portion of the shaft 98 having the sprocket wheel 96 extends materially outwardly of the cross conveyor belt and is journaled in a third bearing 99 on an angleY bar arm |00 on the adjacent angle bar 94.

Soil precipitated onto the cross conveyor belt 90 is carried thereby to one side` of the trench being dug and discharged onto the ground. In actual construction, the cross conveyor belt 90 will be removably mountedV so that it may be positioned to discharge onv either side of the trench. In the left-hand side'plate 24 is an aperture for the cross conveyor' belt 90 and an apron 90 is hung in this apertureto prevent soil precipitated onto said conveyor belt from being discharged through this aperture.

The shovels 12 as they are carried upwardly around the sprocket 65 successively move` past a scraper blade |0I. This scraper blade I0| comprises two sections that are spaced apart to leave a passageway |02 therebetweenfor the posts '19 of the shovels 12. Eachsection of the scraper blade |0| has on its outer endA portion an arm |03 rigidly secured ,to the inner end portion of a rock shaft |04. The rockshafts |04 are axially aligned and journaled in longsleeve bearings |05 held in brackets' I06"on'the metal straps 31 and the sleeve bearing 36.5The scraper blade I0| and its arms |03 are onV the arc Yof ia'circle having its center belowsaid scraper bladeand arms. Each section of the scraperbl'ade |0| is yieldingly heldby .a pair' of 4opposing relatively weak and strong springs |01 `and |08, respectively. On the outer end of ea'ch'rock shaft |64 is a crank arm |09 to which a longdependin'g'screw rod II0 is attached by alink I .pivoted to said arm. This rod |`I04 extends axially through the springs |01 and |08 'and' a'spring base ||`2 on the adjacent oblique bar 20.

The 'springs |01 Y and |08 are compressed between the spring base ||2 and spring frames I I3 on the rod ||0. These spring followers ||3 are adjustably held where positioned on the rod I I by pairs of nuts I I4.

In case an object or substance on one of the shovels 12 is not precipitated therefrom when said shovel is in dumping po-sition, the scraper blade I 0| is engaged thereby and said scraper blade moved with the respective shovel. As the scraper blade I0| is moved with one of the shovels 12, the tension of the springs |08 is progressively increased and thereby exerts a greater force on the scraper blade |0| to remove the obstruction. During this movement of the scraper blade IDI with the shovel 12, the sprocket wheel 65 and the conveyor chain 64 passing therearound are in the path of movement of said scraper blade. To cause the sections of the scraper blade |0| to pass the sprocket wheel 65 and the conveyor chain 64, said sections are further separated to increase the width of the passageway |02 therebetween by moving the rock shaft |04 axially. This axial movement of the rock shaft |04 is accomplishedl by roller-equipped cam studs ||5 on said shafts and cam slots in the bearings |05 in which said cam studs work.

It will be noted that the shovels 12 move about the axis of the countershaft 34 and that the scraper blade |0| moves about the axes of the rock shafts |04 which are eccentric to the axis of said countershaft. Due to this eccentricity, the scraper blade I 04 progressively moves away from the shovel '|2 by which it is being moved by an obstruction thereon. In case an obstruction on a shovel 12 is not removed by the scraper blade |0I, said scraper blade by the time it reaches its extreme raised position, will have been moved out of contact with the obstruction and returned to normal position by the compressed springs |08. During the return of the scraper blade |0I, the springs |01 act as cushions for said scraper blade and associated parts. It is evident that in some instances only one of the sections of the scraper blade |0| will be moved with a shovel 12; or if both, they may be released from the obstruction at different times and returned to normal position.

The shovels 12 and the scraper blade |0| are more fully shown and described and broadly claimed in application No. 630,311 led November 23, 1945, now Patent 2,472,758 issued on June 7, 1949, and entitled Trench Excavator Shovel and Scraper.

From the above description, it is evident that by raising or lowering the boom 54, the depth to which a trench is to be cut may be varied at will. In case one of the shovels 12 engages a large rock, root or other obstruction, the clutch 21 will slip and thereby prevent undue strain on the excavator.

As heretofore stated, the variation of speeds is flexible and can be regulated to enable any type or make of tractor with a power take-off attachment, regardless of size, to power it. When moving the trench excavator on the road or to its destination of digging, it is towed by the tractor. When in operation, the trench excavator pushes the tractor but is powered solely by the tractor by means of the power take-off. Only one man is necessary to operate the trench excavator and the tractor.

The variation of speeds of the trench excavator is regulated by means of the transmissions 29, the digging synchronized with the advance enabling the power of the tractor to be fully utilized at all times when operating, regardless of the size of the tractor, thus eliminating loss of surplus power when powered by a, large tractor and accomplishing more and faster digging. It will, o-f course, be understood that when the trench excavator is being towed by the tractor, the several transmissions 29 will be in neutral positions and when the trench excavator is being powered from the tractor and is pushing said tractor, the tractors speed transmission will be in neutral position.

The drawings illustrate a commercial form of the trench excavator, but it will be understood that the same is capable of modification as to details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts within the scope of the invention herein disclosed.

What I claim is:

In combination with a tractor having a power take-off, a trench excavator including an elongated substantially rectangular frame, dual wheels mounted beneath one end of the frame supporting the frame, a speed transmission mounted on forward end of the frame, a drive shaft coupled between the power take-off and the speed transmission including therein a slip clutch, a secondary speed transmission mounted on the frame in rearwardly spaced relationship to the first named transmission, a drive connection between the two transmissions, a differential mounted beneath the frame and having drive connection with the secondary transmission, each of said ground engaging wheels having chain-drive engagement with the differential, a driven shaft rotatably mounted above and transversely of the frame, an elongated boom disposed longitudinally of the frame and mounted to swing about the axis of the driven shaft, an endless, bucket digger movably mounted longitudinally of and on the boom and having operable connection with the driven shaft, a bucket scraper yieldably mounted adjacent the driven shaft and aligned with the travel line of said buckets, an endless discharge conveyor mounted transversely of the frame beneath the bucket scraper and overhanging one side thereof, said driven shaft and said conveyor having a common operable drive connection with that drive shaft interconnecting the two speed transmissions, and a hand operable windlass on said frame for raising and lowering the boom about the axis of the driven shaft.

DANIEL F. PRZYBYLSKI.

y REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 577,167 Mayback Feb. 16, 1897 1,038,915 Lyback Sept. 17, 1912 1,630,231 Vaughn May 24, 1927 1,722,585 Manley July 30, 1929 1,832,787 Penote Nov. 17, 1931 1,852,344 C'oultas et al. Apr. 5, 1932 1,959,768 Seyferth et al May 22, 1934 1,987,928 Eckert Jan. 15, 1935 2,169,518 Brady et al Aug. 15, 1939 2,252,837 Dicke Aug, 19, 1941 2,259,659 Penote et al. Oct.y 21, 1941 

